http://ozarkspub.vo.llnwd.net/o37/KSMU/audio/mp3/suspect-kansas-city-shootings-has-connections-odinism_82517.mp3
In his 2006 run for Congress he seemed to identify with Christianity. In his 2012 visit to a class at Missouri State he sounded like an atheist. But in his 1999 autobiography, Frazier Glenn Miller claims his allegiance to Odinism. A neo-pagan belief system, Odinism has become an attractive vehicle for white supremacist messages. KSMU’s Samantha Nichols tells us more.
How Miller became associated with Odinism is unclear, but David Embree, adjunct professor of religious studies at Missouri State who specializes in new religious movements, is skeptical as to how religious Miller’s connection really is to the belief system.
“Does Glenn Miller really believe in Odin? I don’t know. I don’t necessarily think he does, you know, as far as, someplace out there is this great creator god Odin. I just think he found in Odin a narrative, a myth system you might say, that supported what he wanted,” said Embree.
Much of what makes Odinism appealing to white supremacists is its geographical origin in the Scandinavian region.
“That area of the world was and, to a large extent, still is very white. And, you know, there are no gods of color. There’s just no acknowledgement of people other than the white race,” said Embree.
Odin, the creator god of Odinism, is also referred to as “Allfather.” Embree explained that this perception of Odin combined with the predominantly white population of Northern Europe has resulted in some followers to consider Odin the father of white people. This, Embree noted, “satisfies” white supremacists.
The natural conditions of Northern Europe also contribute to the fascination with Odinism by some white supremacist movements.
“That’s a tough place to live, even still. It’s cold, it’s harsh, you gotta be tough. And Odin and some of the other gods he begat are all about toughness, about war, about well victories is a major theme. You know, we will defeat this, we will defeat that,” said Embree.
Odinism’s emphasis on toughness is observable when considering one of its understandings of the afterlife, "Valhalla,” a place where chosen warriors are believed to gather as reward for their bravery.
According to Embree, the appropriation of Odinism by white supremacists is consistent with a broader trend in which neo-pagan movements are sometimes only loosely related to their supposed pagan roots. Embree explained that some of the symbolism and language may be similar, but that the goals are often different.
Elements that most would expect to find in a religious tradition are often nowhere to be seen within Odinism. Odinism generally lacks rituals such as prayer and worship and the inclination to submit oneself to the spiritual forces in the world.
“There’s often a real submissive element of even Paganism. I am not aware of any of that in modern, white supremacist oriented Odinism,” said Embree.
Embree explained that Northern European pagan movements are not inherently associated with white supremacist beliefs. Embree referenced “Asatrú,” another form of Germanic paganism, and explained that, traditionally, many see this as a part of their heritage as opposed to a genetic, racially charged need for power. Miller’s connection to Odinism has already prompted responses from people in the neo-pagan community.
“Already, you know, I’ve seen some stuff online and so on where the more Asatrú side of things is saying, ‘No, no, no, no, we’re not with them, you know, those are not us,” said Embree.
While some have distanced themselves from Miller’s style of neo-paganism and actions, Embree cautioned that others have probably been inspired.
Considering Odinism’s connection to the white supremacist movement, understanding the belief system is important in preventing hate crimes like the ones believed to have been committed in Overland Park, Kansas.
The Southern Poverty Law Center has been monitoring the transformation of traditional Norse belief systems into versions that support white supremacist ideologies for years.